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T-Mobile introduces Sparq

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It was an under-the-radar release, but last week T-Mobile prepaid introduced the Sparq, a messaging-centric phone that features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It comes from Alcatel, a well-known phone manufacturer that has been slow to reach the US. Again, it’s nothing fancy, featuring a VGA camera, music player, and microSD slot. But if messaging, and not data, is your bag, you can find some use from the Sparq. It’s available for $79.99 on T-Mobile’s website.

It’s not a bad phone for someone who doesn’t want or need a smartphone, but wants a qwerty keyboard and a music player. In fact, the music player is surprisingly good – I’ve seen worse on more expensive phones. Even the included earbuds sound pretty good, and with a 3.5mm headphone jack you can use your favorite headphones or sound dock. It even has A2DP stereo bluetooth for wireless headphones, speakers, or car stereo.

It can run Java apps, and even comes with Opera Mini preinstalled – much better than the WAP browser. Granted, it’s no speed demon, no 3G and I don’t think it even has EDGE, but for occasional simple browsing it’ll do in a pinch. Get the cheapest plan, because even when you hit the data cap you won’t go any slower than this already is.

It is an ideal phone for heavy texters and talkers, with 11 hours talk time per charge!

The Sparq is the hidden gem, and at a great price, for those of us who don’t feel the need to jump on the smartphone bandwagon.